If you are a snowmobile enthusiast, consider testing your skill in a 3,100-km, gruelling race titled Cain’s Quest. If you’d rather go as an arm-chair traveller, hunker down in Labrador City where you’ll be privy to lots of activities and can track the race via satellite. In Western Newfoundland, Marble Mountain is arguably the best place to ski in Atlantic Canada. It boasts a 1,700-foot vertical drop, 39 runs ranging from novice to expert, five lifts, and an average annual snowfall of 16 ft. Bonus: close by, you’ll find Marble Zip Tours with nine zip lines! Imagine zooming along 285 feet in the sky through a winter wonderland. Central Newfoundland goes all out in the winter with offerings such as Mid Winter Biver in Exploits Valley and SnowFari in Gander. Several adventure companies arrange special activities in the winter— everything from a “Survival 101 course” to ice fishing and traditional boil-ups. And you can’t go wrong visiting the capital, St. John’s. Aside from enjoying the dining options and night life, consider signing up for a sleigh ride at Lester’s Farm Chalet, or head out for a good old-fashioned slide at Bowring, Victoria, and Pippy Parks.
Nova Scotia What does one do when one can’t compete with the mounds of snow found in other
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Marble Mountain, western Newfoundland.
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Newfoundland and Labrador
Atlantic Provinces? Create a whopping event that doesn’t depend on the white stuff and call it the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl. During the month of February, communities between Barrington and Peggy’s Cove go all out celebrating Homarus americanus and the importance of the lobster industry. Along with eating lobster dishes galore, you’ll meet Lucy the Lobster and discover plenty of lobster lore—art, music, stories and traditions shaped by the lobster industry. Foodies love Halifax’s “Dine Around,” also during the month of February. For 28 days, numerous cafes, bistros and restaurants offer special menu items ranging from $10-$50. Across the harbour, Dartmouth hosts an Ice Festival, which gets a lot of attention the first week of March. If you really want to shake things up, head to Mavillette Beach in early February for the Second Annual Polar Surf & Swim. The brave souls who took part this past winter raised $4,600 for the Clare Food Bank. You, too, could be part of the next endeavour. And as long as there’s wind, surfing’s great at Mavillette—any time of year. Hot Lobster Sandwich, Clara Harris style Ingredients 2 cups lobster ¼ cup butter 2 tsp vinegar 2 cups 18% cream Method Sauté lobster in butter for one minute, stir in vinegar for one minute, stir in cream until it thickens. Season with salt and pepper. Serve on toast.
Tonging for oysters in PEI.
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you’ll find fat biking, snowshoeing, and some interesting walking options. For a slower pace, take in Charlottetown’s Ice City Festival where you’ll find everything from an International Ice Carving Championship to horse and wagon rides, sugar-shack weekends, snowshoeing after dark at Victoria Park—and more.
